Wearable Breastmilk Collection System with Integrated Vacuum and Nesting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional breast pump systems are cumbersome, obtrusive, noisy, and inconvenient, failing to support discretion, mobility, and ease of use, particularly for mothers who need to express breastmilk due to lactation or medical issues.
Innovation Solution
A breastmilk collection system that fits inside a brassiere, using silicone tubes for vacuum application and integrating a breast flange, duck bill valve, diaphragm, and collection container, allowing for hands-free expression and collection of breastmilk, with options for electric vacuum power sources and compact design to minimize parts and assembly complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional breast pump systems are used, then effective breastmilk expression is achieved, but the system becomes cumbersome and obtrusive
Solution Approach 1:
The breast pump system is nested within a brassiere, with the collection container and pump components integrated into the bra structure. This allows the pump to be worn comfortably against the body while maintaining all necessary pumping functions, resolving the contradiction between effectiveness and portability.
Solution Approach 2:
The brassiere serves multiple functions: it provides structural support, houses the pump components, and acts as the wearing vehicle for the device. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, making the system less cumbersome while maintaining expression effectiveness.
2Reliability
If traditional breast pump systems are used, then breastmilk can be collected, but the system is noisy and inconvenient
Solution Approach 1:
By nesting the pump within the brassiere, the device leverages the bra's fabric and structure to dampen noise and reduce the obtrusive nature of traditional pumps. The collection container is also integrated into the bra, eliminating the need for separate bulky components.
3Reliability
If multiple components are used for breast pumping, then effective milk expression is achieved, but assembly becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the breast flange, collection container, and pump into an integrated assembly that fits within the brassiere. This reduces the number of separate components the user must handle and assemble, while maintaining the functional effectiveness of each component for milk expression.
4Device complexity
If a compact design is used, then mobility and discretion are improved, but the number of components may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The compact design achieves mobility and discretion by nesting all necessary functional components (breast flange, collection container, pump) within the brassiere structure. The integration ensures that while the system is compact, all essential functions for effective breastmilk expression are preserved.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system enhances convenience, comfort, and mobility for breastmilk expression, facilitating maximum milk extraction while minimizing breast engorgement risk, and enabling discreet and easy use with minimal assembly requirements.
Implementation Method 1
uses electric vacuum power source for pumping
Implementation Method 2
A funnel shaped breast flange is inserted into a flange receiver and assembled with a valve to let expressed human breastmilk drip into the collection container
Data Source
AI summary
A wearable breastmilk collection device includes a storage compartment with a flange and a cup, a breast accepting flange separated from the storage compartment by a one-way valve, a vacuum source attachment, and a reservoir in communication with the vacuum source attachment. A method of expressing and collecting breastmilk from a breast may involve using the wearable breastmilk collection device described above to express breastmilk from the breast, while the device is positioned in the woman's brassiere.